Waffle iron



July 4,` 1944.

A.,P. GRUENKE ET AL 2,352,706

wAFFiLE IRON Filed May 2s, 1941 ATTORN EY mold if the plunger were notmovably mounted to move away from the top of the iron, and by soconstructing the waie iron, we provide an iron which may be readilyfilled.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of aremovable impaling prong, which may be substituted in the mold device topermit a cavity to be formed in the wafe, which may bevlled at the endof the cooking operation. vAs a result, if litis desired -to provide awaiiie which may be lled with some material, which preferably is notheated with the waffle, such a waffle may be formed and lled at thecompletion of the molding operation.

An additional feature of our invention resides in the provision of awallie which may be used to enclose a food product of any desirabletype,

which could be used in combination with the waiiie. The impaling prongmay be usedto support any product, which by its nature is capable ofbeing supported on such a prong, and through the provision of a cavityforming `device, other types of food products may be placed into thewaflie after the completion of the cooking operation.

These and other objects and novel features of our invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specication and claims.

In the drawing forming a part of our specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wale iron constructed in accordancewith the principles of our invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the waiile iron illustrated in Figure 1,showing the two sections of the mold in open position in dotted outline.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view through the waiiie iron, theposition of the section being indicated by the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through one section of the mold,illustrating the construction thereof.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the cavity forming device, whichmay be substituted for the impaling prong illustrated in Figure 3 of thedrawing.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the locking device for holding thesections of the mold in interlocked relation.

The wailie iron A includes a base IU, including a top covering plate IIhaving depending side walls I2 mounted thereupon. The plate II providesa smooth upper surface which may be readily cleaned, and whichpreferably will not discolor or stain.

A pivot post or standard I3 extends upwardly from the base I0, as bestillustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. A collar I4 is secured on thepost or standard I3 in any suitable manner, as by a set screw I5. A pairof pivot arms I6 and l1 are provided with enlarged bearing portions I9and 2|] which rest upon each other and upon the collar I4. A second setof pivot arms 2| and 22 are provided with bearing portions 23 and 24which encircle the post I3 and pivotally support the arms 2| and 22.

The waliie iron A includes two body sections, indicated in general bythe numerals 25 and 26.

The sections 25 and 26 are similar in construc-A tion. The section 25 ispivotally supported by the arms I1 and 22. The section 26 is pivotallysupported by the post I3, by the arms I6 and 2|. The collar I4 holds thetwo sections at the proper elevation with respect to the base I0.

The sections 25 and 26 each include a semitubular mold section 21, whichin the form illustrated is provided with a semicylindrical outer surface29 and a concentric semicylindrical inner surface 30. The inner surface30 is provided with a series of grooves 3l in spaced relation within thesame, which grooves are designed to form rings about the body of thewaflie cast therein. f

Encircling the outer surface 29 of the mold 21, we provide a thin sheet32 of asbestos, or other insulating material, to prevent short circuitbetween the metal body of the waiiie iron and the 'heating element whichwill be later described.

A channel-shaped outer covering 33 is secured by screwsor bolts 28, orany other suitable means to the mold sections 21. These channel-shapedcoverings 33 enclose the entire outer surface of the mold sections 21and are preferably formed of stainless steel, or of plated metal, inorder to present an attractive appearance. As Awill be noted in `Figure1 of the drawing, when the waie iron is closed, the molds are entirelyconcealed between the ends by the channel-shaped coverings 33; Thesecoverings 33 have'opposed front and rear walls 34 and 35 and -a sidewall 36.

The mold sections 21 are cast with substantially-rectangular end flanges31 which terminate inmarginal flanges 39. The channel covering members33 encircle the rectangular flanges 31 and are supported in rectangularshape thereby. The marginal flanges 39 extend beyond the surface of thecoverings 33 to form a flange vat each end of the waffle iron. y

Mounted along the walls 34 and 35 of the channel-shaped covering 33, weprovide sheets 40 of asbestos, or other suitable heat insulating means.Along thev base of the channels 33,` which form the sides of the mold,we provide a heavier sheet 4I of asbestos, orother heat insulatingmaterial. To this sheet 4| we secure a series of spaced insulators 42,about which may be wound the heating element 43.` The ends ofl theheating element 43'are shown in Figure 3 of the drawing to be connectedat 44 to the current supply wires 45, which extend into the base andwhich are connected to prongs 46 which may be connected to any suitablesupply of electricall current. v

Extending through the front Wall 34 of each of the channel-shapedcovering members 33, we provide a tubular element A41 which is closed atits outer extremity by means of a transparent or translucent lens 49.When the heating element 43 is being supplied with current the lightgiven off by this heating element is vreadily visible through the lenses43. Somewhat beneath. the lenses 49 we provide operating knobs 5I) by.means of which the two sections of ther-mold may be separated. r'

Upon the base plate II we-provide` a central boss 5I which is centrallydrilled and threaded at 52. A plug 53 threadably engages inthe bossv 5Iand is provided with an-'impaling prong 54 thereupon. This impalingprongis designed to support meat, such as a cooked sausage, or the like,to be enclosed within batter poured'through the top of the mold. Theboss 5I ts closely within the cylindrical bore 30 of the mold sections21, preventing the leaking of batter therebetween.

The shape of the impaling prong 54 is not essentially as it is picturedin Figure 3 of the drawing. Various types of impaling devices or cavityforming devices may be used in place of the prong 54 illustrated.',iIn,FigureV 5 of theudrawin'g we disclosel a 'cone '5 5 w lch isiprovided with a thread'edn'd 156 'to lthreadably'eng'a'g'e the threads52 of,`the boss 5l. Such a cone may 'besubstit'uted for the plug53,andim'paling prong 54, if it is so de"s'ired,` Obviously 'the cori'e V55forms a cavity ir'i the wallie which maybe iilled at the completio'rivof ,the Icooking operation.` y

In 'order to closethe upper 'end ofthe mold We provide a socket 'lwhichengages the upper end of the standard 'I3 and which is provided with abracket 59 which supports the bearing 66. A plunger 6'I eiteidsthrligh'the bearing 6E! and terminates in'` a plugv62'designed to t intothe' 'upper end o'i tlie mold'cavity within the cylindrical bore 30. Aange 63 at the top of the plug 62 provides a means of limiting thedownward movement of this plug. A spring 64 encircles the plunger 6I tourge the plungerA 62 downwardly. An operating knob 65 secured to theupper end of the plunger 6| limits the downward movement of the plungerwhen the mold is open, or when the top has been swung to one side asillustrated in dotted outline in Figure 1 of the drawing.

A pair of springs 66 are mounted to extend from one of the sections 26and is designed to eX- tend into a suitable aperture 61 in the section25. As the mold closes the springs 66 compress together and engage inthe aperture 61 to hold the mold sections and 26 in closed position.These springs 66 will also compress to permit the two sections to beswung into open position, as illustrated in dotted outline in Figure 2of the drawing, when it is desired to do so. However, they are ofsufiicient strength to prevent accidental opening of the mold.

The manner of operation of the mold is believed obvious from theforegoing description. The two sections 25 and 26 of the mold are swunginto closed position, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing, and thetop plunger 62 is removed by pulling upwardly on the knob 65 andswinging the bracket 59 to one side, as illustrated in dotted outline inFigure l of the drawing. The entire top end of the mold is then openedfor filling purposes. Previous to closing the two sections of the mold,a food product, such as a cooked sausage or the like, may be impaledupon the prong 54 and supported, spaced from the edges of the mold sothat it may be entirely enclosed by the wailie batter.

When the mold is lled to the desired level the bracket 59 is swungaround above the opening at the top of the mold and the plunger 62 isdropped into the upper end of the mold cavity. If an eXcess of walliebatter has been inserted the spring 64 will flex sufiiciently to allowthe plunger 62 to raise to accommodate for this eX- cess. After acertain desired period of cooking the two sections of the mold may bespread apart and the plunger 62 moved from its closing position. Thewallie having the food product embedded therein may then be removed bylifting the same vertically, the prong 54 sliding out through the lowerend of the waiile.

We have described a unit which is operable as a unit, and which includesbut a single mold cavity. Our same principle of invention can be appliedto multiple units having the same theory of operation as has beendescribed. In the case of multiple units it is in some instancesdesirable to have the mold sections mounted for slidable movement asthey separate and move together, as th'e pivotal movement disclosedrequires more bed' 'h rein,

ar'iofor this reason a detaudjexpianationfis bg:

described thelprincip'lesof construction and oper'-v ation oi ourwalliel iron, cand while' we have endeavored to' `ser: 'forth the testembodiments thereoweidesireito have it understood that obvious 'changesmay peinado within the' scope of thefol'lowing claiAr s withoutAdeparting 'from the spirit of our invention. '4

We claim: A

l. rvA waie iron comprising a. pair'oi's'ections designed to separatealong a substantially vertical plane, a mold cavity formed by saidsections between the same, said sections having a lling opening incommunication with said mold cavity, and spring urged yielding means forclosing said iilling opening and to allow for expansion of the waiie.

2. A waiiie iron comprising two sections separable along a substantiallyvertical plane, a mold cavity formed by said sections and between thesame, a filling opening in communication with said mold cavity, meansfor closing said filling opening, spring urged means for yieldablysupporting said closing means to allow for expansion of the waiile, andmeans within said cavity for supporting a food product to be enclosed bythe waiile batter.

3. A waiie iron comprising a horizontal base, a boss projecting upwardlyfrom said base, a pair of vertical waiile iron sections, means on saidbase mounting said sections for movement toward and away from saidprojecting boss on said base while maintaining the vertical positionthereof. said projecting boss forming the bottom of the mold cavitybetween sections in closed position thereof, means for closing the upperextremity of the mold cavity, and spring urged yieldable meansresiliently urging said last named closing means into closing position,said closing means allowing for expansion of the waffle.

4. A wallie iron comprising a horizontal base, a boss projectingupwardly from said base, an impaling prong projecting upwardly from saidprojecting boss, a pair of waiile iron sections separable along asubstantially vertical plane, means mounting said sections movable whilein vertical position toward and away from said projecting boss on saidbase in their entirety, said sections having a mold cavity therebetween,said sections engageable about said projecting boss in closed positionof said sections, said projecting boss forming a bottom for the moldcavity, and means closing the top of said mold cavity.

5. A wallie iron comprising a base, a projecting boss extending upwardlyfrom said base, an impaling prong projecting upwardly from saidprojecting boss, a pair of wailie iron sections separable along asubstantially vertical plane, means for mounting said sections formovement toward and away from said projecting boss on said base, a moldcavity formed between said sections, said projecting boss forming abottom for said mold cavity in closed position of said sections, and ayieldably supported closing means for the upper end of said mold cavityarranged to allow expansion of the wallie.

6. A waiiie iron comprising a pair of waiile iron sections separablealong a substantially vertical plane, means for mounting said sectionsfor movement toward and away from one another, said sectionshaving amold cavity therebetween and having a lling'opening in communicationwith said mold cavity, a reciprocable plunger closing said inletopening, and means for swingably supporting said reciprocable plunger sothat said plunger may be moved into or out of axial alignment with saidlling opening.

7. A Waffle iron comprising a pair of waiile iron sections separablealong a substantially vertical plane, means for mounting said sectionsfor movement toward and away from one another, said sections having amolded cavity therebetween in closed position and having a fillingopening in communication with said mold cavity, a plunger for closingsaid filling opening, a means for urging said plunger resiliently intosaid filling opening and a means for swngably mounting said plunger outof alignment with said iilling opening.

8. A waffle iron comprising a base, a standard projecting upwardly fromsaid base, a pair' of mold sections plvotally secured to Said standardto separate along a substantially vertical plane. said mold sectionshaving a mold cavity therebetween in closed position, a lling opening incommunication with said mold cavity, and yieldable means forclosing saidlling opening, said yieldable means mounted in said standard tov yieldupon expansion of the waffle.

ALOYS P. GRUENKE. BENJAMIN EZRA STAIR.

